Entrepreneurship as a field of study is relatively young. This is so
when thinking about journals and the professional meetings and societies which make up the
infrastructure of the field. It is also true when thinking about the conceptual frameworks
and research findings which constitute the intellectual core of the area. Our purpose is
to review some of these developments to provide an historical context for the field. We
should note that this is primarily a review of events in academia within the United States
and that it is by no means complete. Some may point out that we have not covered
adequately certain developments and they would be right. Others may point out that we have
committed the grievous error of not recognizing their contributions. They would be right
also.